The Stroller: 'Extreme edge'

Friday

Jan 18, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Former Seneca resident Leigh H. Hammond of Raleigh, N.C., says Randy Faulkner's latest comments about Bob Perrin's ideas is a perfect example of how people have lost the ability to have a civilized public discourse. “That also goes for private discourse, I fear, about political issues,” says Mr. Hammond.

By Lou Parrisstroller@shj.com

Former Seneca resident Leigh H. Hammond of Raleigh, N.C., says Randy Faulkner's latest comments about Bob Perrin's ideas is a perfect example of how people have lost the ability to have a civilized public discourse. “That also goes for private discourse, I fear, about political issues,” says Mr. Hammond. “Such comments as ‘source of a laugh,' ‘blind obedience,' ‘left-loons' and ‘drivel' add nothing to a discussion of different points of view on political matters. The comment about liberals making threats of riots and pillaging if Mitt Romney won the election was based on a few tweets from a very few individuals out on the extreme edge. Does Randy not remember the threats of assassination of President Barack Obama by a few extremists on his side? Or did he not recently see the man on CNN raging about ‘another 1776 event' over the gun issue? There are always a few on both sides of the political spectrum who take extreme positions. That doesn't support the right to paint the whole body of conservatives or liberals with the same brush used by a few extremists on either side.”

‘I REMEMBER IT WELL': It's an oldie but a goodie, says Glenn Jones after seeing the 1973 film “Executive Action.” “There have been several versions of what ‘could have' happened on Nov. 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, but this movie probably makes as much sense as any,” says the Drayton resident. “If you're a history buff, you might find it intriguing. It stars Burt Lancaster, Will Geer and Robert Ryan and is worth watching, especially if you remember that day when our president was assassinated. I was only 12, but I remember it well.”

QUIPS GORDON SUMMEY: “A group located in the great state of Massachusetts has named Spartanburg the 12th most dangerous city in the United States. That should be a warning to all thinking about moving in, especially from states in that area and of that ilk. The Yankees just won't leave us alone and mind their own business, will they?”

‘ROUGHLY A GALLON': Jim Conner of Landrum is sure to have sides splitting from laughter with this gem about a truck driver stuck in a traffic jam on a highway outside Washington, D.C. Nothing was moving. Suddenly, a man knocked on the truck driver's window. The driver rolled down the window and asked, “What's going on?” “Terrorists have kidnapped Congress, and they're asking for a $100 million ransom. Otherwise, they are going to douse them all in gasoline and set them on fire. We are going from vehicle to vehicle collecting donations.” “How much is everyone giving, on average?” the truck driver asked. The man replied, “Roughly a gallon.”

ODDS AND ENDS: Got tickets to the Oyster Roast at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Boiling Springs? Plates are always loaded with your choice of seafood, from steamed oysters to fried fish, plus fries and homemade desserts, at the annual fundraiser. It's going to take place March 16 starting at 6 p.m. at the church in Boiling Springs. And for those kids who don't like seafood, the hot dogs will be on the house. Call 578-3238 for tickets. The church is a short distance north of Walmart on Highway 9.

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